Garment Pump

ABSTRACT

An active deformable semi-rigid element is combined with a garment and power source to create a pumping action to create a cooling flow of air across a wearer&#39;s body.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to clothing and in particular, clothing that creates a flow of air adjacent the wearer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Aspects of the invention may be incorporated into a garment wherein a first active deformable semi-rigid element extends between a pair of nodes on a garment surface and a controller is functionally coupled to the active deformable semi-rigid element. The controller may be controlled by a software program to manipulate the application of power applied to the active deformable semi-rigid element and manipulation of the application of power applied to the active deformable semi-rigid element causes undulation or pumping of the garment surface. Aspects may also be incorporated into garment with a second active deformable semi-rigid element coupled between a second pair of nodes, the second active deformable semi-rigid element also coupled to the controller and caused to undergo undulation or pumping action due to the application and removal of power applied to the active deformable semi-rigid element. Additionally, aspects may be incorporated into a garment with at least one active deformable semi-rigid element and a passive semi-rigid element coupled between a pair of electrically isolated nodes and wherein the active deformable semi-rigid element is coupled to one node and a medial position of the passive semi-rigid element and the application and removal of power applied to the active deformable semi-rigid element tugs on or pulls the passive semi-rigid element to create the undulation or pumping motion.

Numerous advantages and features of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the embodiments thereof, from the claims and from the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of a garment 1 with a first active deformable semi-rigid element 9 extended and connected between first and second nodes 3 and a second active deformable semi-rigid element 9 extended and connected between third and fourth nodes 3, and a controller 5 to modulate power applied to the first and second active deformable semi-rigid elements 9 to cause deformation of the active deformable semi-rigid elements 9, and thereby the garment to undulate;

FIG. 2 illustrates a second embodiment of a garment 1 with an active deformable semi-rigid element 9 extended and connected between a first node 3 and at a medial position of a passive semi-rigid element 6 extended and connected between first and second passive nodes 13, controller 5 modulates power applied to the active deformable semi-rigid elements 9 to cause the passive semi-rigid element 6, and thereby the garment, to undulate;

FIGS. 3-4 illustrates a third embodiment of a garment 1 with an active deformable semi-rigid element 9 that has a spring or helix shape and the deformation of the active deformable semi-rigid element 9 causes a pumping or undulation action (as represented by the double-arrow) of the garment 1;

FIG. 5 illustrates a fourth embodiment of a garment 1 with an active deformable semi-rigid element 9 with a curved or substantially parabolic shape extended and connected between a first node 3 and at a medial position of a passive semi-rigid element 6 extended and connected between first and second passive nodes 13, controller 5 modulates power applied to the active deformable semi-rigid elements 9 to cause the passive semi-rigid element 6, and thereby the garment 1, to undulate and pump air through the garment 1;

FIG. 6 illustrates a fifth embodiment of a garment 1 with a substantially helical or coiling shaped active deformable semi-rigid element 9 extended and connected between a first and second nodes 3 and, controller 5 and battery pack in a garment pocket 12 modulates power applied to the active deformable semi-rigid elements 9 to cause the passive semi-rigid element 6, and thereby the garment, to undulate; and

FIG. 7 illustrates a sixth embodiment of a garment 1 with another substantially helical or coiling shaped active deformable semi-rigid element 9 extended and connected between a first and second nodes 3 and, wherein the controller 5 is eliminated from the drawing but present in actual applications.

The objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more readily appreciated upon reference to the following disclosure when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein reference numerals are used to identify the components in the various views.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The figures illustrate several embodiments of garments 1 incorporating aspects of the invention. The aspects of the invention disclosed may scaled or modified for any and all garment 1 sizes and types. The aspects disclosed herein may also be adapted to garments composed of alternate or composite materials such as wetsuits or spacesuits if the active deformable semi-rigid element(s) and power available is appropriately increased or modified for the application. Accordingly, particular features of the disclosed embodiments should not be construed as limiting any aspects of the invention.

Garments 1 incorporating aspects of the invention generally include an active deformable semi-rigid element 9 incorporated onto or into a garment 1 and a powered means of deforming the active deformable semi-rigid element 9 to undulate the garment 1 and create a pumping action of the garment 1 fabric to move air across a wearer's body. The pumping action of the garment 1 may deliver cooling air to the wearer's body as illustrated in FIG. 3. Aspects of the invention may be incorporated into various embodiments. For example, FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment that may comprise a first active deformable semi-rigid element 9 extended and connected between and to a first node 3 and a second node 3, the nodes 3 being attached to a garment 1 surface, such as the garment front inside surface as illustrated, to allow the active deformable semi-rigid element 9 to pivot from the nodes 3. The nodes 3 may comprise for example a glue or other structure that allows the active deformable semi-rigid element 9 to pivot from the subject node 3.

A controller 5 may be power by a battery and functionally coupled by a wire conductor 2 to the first node 3 and the controller 5 controlled by a software program to deliver power via the wire conductor 2 and first node 3 to manipulate the active deformable semi-rigid element 9. As the reader will appreciate, on a hot day, the manipulation or pumping of a worn garment 1 can create a flow of warm moist air away from the wearer's body that is replaced by dryer cooler air thereby cooling of the wearer. In the same manner, the undulation of the active deformable semi-rigid element 9 causes undulation or pumping of the garment surface 1 and cools the wearer's body without the need for the wearer to manually pump the garment 1 fabric. Additionally, as illustrated, the garment 1 may include a second active deformable semi-rigid element 9 extended between a third node 3 and a fourth node 3 on the garment surface 1 and the controller 5 also functionally coupled by wire conductor 2 to the second active deformable semi-rigid element 9 so that the controller 5 manipulates both the first and second deformable semi-rigid elements 9. Each circuit including an active deformable semi-rigid element 9 includes a current return path 4 coupled from a node 3 (e.g., the second node 3 and fourth node 3) to the controller 5 and battery. In alternate embodiments, the garment 1 material may be constructed of a conductive material and function as a floating ground or current return path to the battery and controller 5. As an example, the embodiments in FIGS. 1 and 2 may comprise garments 1 with conductive fabric and the dashed current return path 4 omitted since the garment 1 acts as the floating ground or current return path.

FIGS. 2 and 5 illustrate alternate embodiments that include an active deformable semi-rigid element 9 and a passive semi-rigid element 6. In such embodiment, the controller 5 and associated power are connected by a wire conductor 2 to a first node 3 and the active deformable semi-rigid element 9 connected between said first node 3 and a medial position of the passive semi-rigid element 6 that is extended and pivotally connected between first and second passive nodes 13. The controller 5 modulates power applied to the active deformable semi-rigid elements 9 which deformation cause the passive semi-rigid element 6, and thereby the garment, to undulate. As illustrated in the various drawings, the active and/or passive deformable semi-rigid elements 9 between the respective nodes 3 to which each is connected may be in shapes selected from curved, parabolic, coiled, helical, and straight.

The controller 5 and battery may be hidden in a pocket 12 sewn into the garment 1 as illustrated in FIG. 6 and has a program to simultaneously manipulate the active deformable semi-rigid element(s). The active deformable semi-rigid elements 9 may each be manipulated individually, in combination, and if in combination, in a manner selected from in-phase, and out-of-phase, or in any manner that works to pump the garment 1 fabric and cause airflow inside the garment 1. A Pulse Width Modulated (PWM) power driven from the controller 5 may be applied based on the software program operating on the controller 5 to cause the one or more active deformable semi-rigid elements 9 to undergo deformation and manipulate the garment 1 surface that it contacts.

Causing an undulation or pumping action of a garment 1 may be accomplished by alternate methods and structures, however, the preferred means to do so comprises use of an active deformable semi-rigid element 9 that has wirelike properties to permit that the structure and composition of the garment 1 to remain largely unchanged and enable that the active deformable semi-rigid element 9 remains substantially undetectable to observers due to its size and shape. A preferred active deformable semi-rigid element 9 comprises nitinol alloy wire, which has a solid-state phase transformation known as a martensitic transformation whereby the heating and cooling of the nitinol alloy wire causes a lengthening and shortening of the nitinol alloy wire. Accordingly, the application of a current and voltage to the nitinol wire causes a heating and lengthening of the nitinol wire and the subsequent withdrawal of the current and voltage causes allows a cooling and shortening of the wire. Moreover, the controller 5 is powered by a battery source and the nodes 3 comprise a conductive element selected from metals and metal alloys and the garment 1 further comprises a return conductor between at least one of the nodes and the battery source.

The periodic or PWM control of turning the applied current and voltage on and off causes the lengthening and shortening of the wire and the described undulation or pumping of the garment 1 fabric. A preferred nitinol alloy wire has the properties substantially as described below.

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES Melting Point: 1310° C. 1310° C. 1310° C. 1310° C. Density: 6.5 g/cm³ 6.5 g/cm³ 6.5 g/cm³ 6.5 g/cm³ Modulus of Elasticity: 41-75 GPa 41-75 GPa 41-75 GPa 41-75 GPa Coefficient of Thermal Expansion 11 × 10⁻⁶/° C. 11 × 10⁻⁶/° C. 11 × 10⁻⁶/° C. 11 × 10⁻⁶/° C. MECHANICAL PROPERTIES Ultimate Tensile Strength: ≥1070 MPa ≥1070 MPa ≥1070 MPa ≥1070 MPa Total Elongation: ≥10% ≥10% ≥10% ≥10% SUPERELASTIC PROPERTIES Loading Plateau Stress @ 3% ≥380 MPa ≥380 MPa ~25% lower ~25% higher than SE508 than SE508 Permanent Set (after 6% strain) ≤0.3% ≤0.3% ≤0.3% ≤0.3% TRANSFORMATION TEMPERATURE Ingot Austenite Finish (A_(f)) −25 to 5° C. −25 to 5° C. 5° C. to 25° C. −65 to −25° C. Finished Product A_(f) −25 to 30° C. −25 to 30° C. 10° C. to 45° C. −65 to 10° C. COMPOSITION (Meets ASTM F2063 requirements) Nickel (nominal): 55.8 wt. % 55.8 wt. % 55.8 wt. % 55.8 wt. % Titanium: Balance Balance Balance Balance Oxygen: ≤0.01 wt. % ≤0.05 wt. % ≤0.05 wt. % ≤0.05 wt. % Carbon: ≤0.005 wt. % ≤0.02 wt. % ≤0.02 wt. % ≤0.02 wt. % Inclusion Area Fraction: ≤1.0% ≤2.8% ≤2.8% ≤2.8%

In general, a 20″-80″ inch length of nitinol alloy wire may be coupled to the power output modulated by the controller 5. For example, a 30″ long, 0.006″ diameter powered at 24V, and 0.3 Amps was found to actuate in 0.5 seconds in air and produce a stroke of about 0.56″. In another example, a nitinol alloy wire 0.002 inches in diameter and 30″ long provided desired performance. This wire offered 2 lbs of force, with 0.6 inches of movement, for every ½ second of power. The cooling time required, unpowered, following the ½ second of power, should be approximately 1.5 seconds to facilitate over 1,000,000 pump cycles. If the material used by the garment 1 can serve as a heat sink, the 1.5 seconds of unpowered rest/cooling between activation may be reduced. Also, using a Bowden cable configuration allows the cable sleeve/tube to serve as a heat sink, also facilitating a shorter rest time between activation.

In practice, the nitinol alloy wire may be enveloped in 2 to 3 inch segments of electrically non-conductive or insulating sleeves, arranged end-to-end or in series, to allow the nitinol alloy wire a mostly unencumbered movement range. This allows the nitinol alloy wire to be more effective moving the garment 1 fabric. Moreover, when the nitinol alloy wire is in its shortest possible state, it is preferred that the segmented sleeve should have a gap no more than 0.1 inches between segments when the nitinol wire is in its shortest possible state. Additionally, if the routing design has more than one active nitinol wires crossing, the garment 1 may include an “x” shaped pair of tubes that prevent the nitinol wires from touching where they cross.

While various embodiments have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. Thus, the breadth and scope of a preferred embodiment should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents. 

1. A garment, comprising: a first active deformable semi-rigid element extended between at least a first node and a second node coupled to a garment; and a power source functionally coupled to the active deformable semi-rigid element; wherein the functional coupled power source causes manipulation of the garment.
 2. The garment in claim 1 wherein the functionally coupled power source includes a controller, the controller controlled by a software program to deliver power to the active deformable semi-rigid element.
 3. The garment in claim 1 wherein the controller is functionally coupled to a battery source, the controller delivers power to the first node through a wire conductor.
 4. The garment in claim 1 wherein a current return path from active deformable semi-rigid element to the power source is provided by a conductor selected from a wire conductor and a floating ground comprised of a conductive garment material.
 5. The garment in claim 1 wherein the active deformable semi-rigid element changes dimensions based on the delivered power to the element.
 6. The garment in claim 2 wherein the active deformable semi-rigid element has wirelike properties.
 7. The garment in claim 1 wherein the first active deformable semi-rigid element comprises a nickel titanium alloy wire.
 8. The garment in claim 2 wherein, a second deformable semi-rigid element extended between a third node and a fourth node on the garment surface and the controller functionally coupled to the semi-rigid element, the controller manipulates both the first and second deformable semi-rigid elements.
 9. The garment in claim 8 wherein, the controller program to manipulate the first and second deformable semi-rigid elements applies a pulse width modulated current to the wire.
 10. The garment in claim 9 wherein, the controller simultaneously manipulates the first and second deformable semi-rigid elements in manner selected from in-phase, and out-of-phase.
 11. The garment in claim 8 wherein, the first node and second node are on an inside garment surface.
 12. The garment in claim 1 wherein, the first deformable semi-rigid element extends between the first node and the second node in a shape selected from curved, coiled, helical, and straight.
 13. A garment, comprising: a first deformable semi-rigid element extended between at least a first node and a second node on a garment surface; a second deformable semi-rigid element connected between a third node and the first deformable semi-rigid element; and a controller and power source functionally coupled to the second deformable semi-rigid element, the controller controlled by a software program to apply power to the second deformable semi-rigid element; wherein application of power to the second deformable semi-rigid element causes manipulation of the first deformable semi-rigid element and thereby the garment surface to undulate.
 14. The garment in claim 13 wherein, the second deformable semi-rigid element is an active deformable semi-rigid element and the first deformable semi-rigid element is a passive semi-rigid element.
 15. The garment in claim 14 wherein, a current return path from the active deformable semi-rigid element to the power source is provided by a conductor selected from a wire conductor and a floating ground comprised of a conductive garment material.
 16. The garment in claim 15 wherein, the controller applies a pulse width modulated power to the active deformable semi-rigid element.
 17. A garment comprising: an active deformable semi-rigid element pivotally connected between two nodes, the nodes connected to the inside surface of the garment; and a controller and battery functionally coupled to the active deformable semi-rigid element to provide power, the active deformable semi-rigid element with a first dimension when power is applied, and having a second dimension when power is removed; wherein the nodes extend in the first dimension and contract in the second dimension and pump the garment.
 18. The garment in claim 17 wherein, the controller program to manipulate the active deformable semi-rigid element applies a pulse width modulated current.
 19. The garment in claim 17 wherein, the active deformable semi-rigid element comprises between 30″ and 60″ of nickel titanium alloy wire. 